Roadside Monument Biography
Who is Roadside Monument?
Roadside Monument was an American rock band from Seattle, WA, formed in 1994 by Doug Lorig, Todd Florence, Mike Dente, and Joel Metzger.
The band signed with Tooth & Nail Records approximately four months after forming and released its debut, the My Life Is Green 7-inch EP, in 1995. Their first full-length album, Beside This Brief Hexagonal, followed in 1996.
Following the band's first two releases, Lorig continued Roadside Monument with Matt Johnson of Blenderhead on drums and Johnathon Ford on bass. The three became the band's lineup for its subsequent releases. In 1997, Roadside Monument released Eight Hours Away from Being a Man, along with split EPs with Puller and Frodus.
The band's music featured unconventional song structures, unusual rhythms, intricate guitar parts, contrasting dynamics, and emotional vocals. Their sound has been described as math rock, emo, indie rock, and post-hardcore, reflecting the difficulty of fitting their music into a single genre.
Roadside Monument was closely associated with the Christian alternative music scene of the 1990s through its relationship with Tooth & Nail Records, although the band members did not generally embrace the label "Christian band." In an interview with HM Magazine, drummer Matt Johnson explained that he was a Christian who played music rather than someone who wanted his music defined by a religious classification. The band's connection to Christian music also brought some tension with Christian retailers over some of its songs and titles.
Roadside Monument broke up following the 1998 Cornerstone Festival after Ford moved to Chicago. The band had already recorded I Am the Day of Current Taste, which was released by Tooth & Nail Records several months after the breakup.
In 2002, Ford returned to Seattle and Roadside Monument reunited. The band played local shows and toured with Pedro the Lion before breaking up again in 2003.
Roadside Monument reunited for a one-night performance in Seattle in June 2017, with Lorig, Ford, and Johnson performing together again. The reunion took place while Ford was visiting Seattle, with the band playing a last-minute show at the Barboza.
Following Roadside Monument, the members became involved in numerous other musical projects. Lorig performed with bands including Patrol, Black Eagle, and Calm Collapse. Ford became a founding member and core member of Unwed Sailor and also performed with Pedro the Lion. Lorig, Ford, and Johnson were also involved in other projects connected to Jeff "Suffering" Bettger, including Suffering and the Hideous Thieves and Raft of Dead Monkeys.
Roadside Monument released six recordings through Tooth & Nail Records: My Life Is Green, Beside This Brief Hexagonal, the Roadside Monument/Puller split EP, Eight Hours Away from Being a Man, the Roadside Monument/Frodus split EP, and I Am the Day of Current Taste. The band's music remains associated with the 1990s emo, math rock, indie rock, and Christian alternative music scenes.